A clash between the supporters of BNP leader Engineer Ishraque Hossain and the leaders and activists of Jagannath University (JnU) unit of Chhatra League has left around 30 people injured on both sides.
Police arrested two members of Chhatra Dal in connection.
The incident took place on Sunday when Ishraque went to JnU for distributing leaflets on the occasion of the party's upcoming mass rally in Dhaka.
Chhatra Dal reported 20–25 injuries while Chhatra League reported 7 injuries in the incident.
Eyewitnesses claimed that when Ishraque arrived in front of the university's main gate in a procession with approximately 100 BNP and Chhatra Dal leaders, a group of Chhatra League leaders and activists attacked them.
Ishraque's allies then launched a counterattack.
Meanwhile, one critically injured Monowar from the Chhatra Dal was detained by the police and taken to the Sutrapur police station, while another Chhatra Dal activist was taken to the Kotwali police station.
Two seriously injured members of the Chhatra League were sent to a nearby private hospital in the university ambulance for treatment.
Deputy Inspector (SI) of university police outpost Hasan Matobbar said: “Some Chhatra League members intervened when Ishraque's activists began chanting anti-government chants. Following that, Ishraque-led activists attacked Chhatra League activists. Later, Ishraque and other Chhatra Dal activists scattered and fled as hundreds of Chhatra League activists attacked from inside the campus.”
JnU Chhatra Dal President Asaduzzaman Aslam said: “Ishraque was attacked by Chhatra League members using rods, hockey sticks, and other homemade weapons when he arrived in front of the institution.”
In this regard, JnU Chhatra League General Secretary Akhtar Hossain said: “Leaders and activists from the BNP and Chhatra Dal chanted anti-prime minister slogans in front of the campus. A couple of us were physically assaulted for interfering with this. Later, some of our younger brothers launched counterattacks against them. In this occurrence, seven of our commanders suffered injuries.”
University proctor Dr Mostofa Kamal said: “The campus environment is quiet at the moment. The proctorial body is in an alert state. I have not been told by any party how many people have been injured.”